Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed before Tuesday’s game against the Giants that Shohei Ohtani, who is set to start on the mound Wednesday, will likely focus solely on pitching, and will be given a rest day on Thursday. Roberts noted that Ohtani could still appear as a pinch hitter on Thursday.
“We’ve decided not to let him hit on Thursday. As for Wednesday, we haven’t made a final decision yet, but we’re leaning toward not having him hit,” Roberts said. “This reduces the burden of hitting. As a two-way player, he can recover physically over a few days. It might also give him a chance to reset offensively.”
Ohtani has been playing as a two-way player since the start of the season, posting a 2-2 record with a 0.97 ERA in six pitching appearances. He was also named the Pitcher of the Month for March and April. However, his batting has been sluggish, with a .223 average, six home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .767 OPS. His May OPS stands at .359, ranking as the third-worst among qualified hitters in the league.
